Top 10 TV Flops from the 90s That Are Actually Worth Watching

As the old saying goes, “you had to be there.” How else can we properly contextualize the humor present within MTV’s blink-and-you-missed-it sketch comedy series, “The State?” So much of the talent involved with this show went on to other things, from Michael Ian Black and Joe Lo Truglio to Thomas Lennon, Ken Marino and Kerri Kenney-Silver. This makes it interesting to go back and watch surreal sketches involving pudding, Jesus and a guy named “Doug” in the modern day. It has that edgy nineties swagger with very little of the problematic trappings that often come packaged with this decade. Trust us: if you enjoyed watching some of this cast in “Reno 911!,” you’ll love checking them out in “The State.”

We’ll say it here and now: we’re honestly not sure if “The Critic” would’ve survived as long as it did without Jon Lovitz at the helm. Heck, we’re not even sure another actor could embody the sad-sack fictional shoes of Jay Sherman, a movie-lover who nevertheless thrives upon slicing-and-dicing flicks for a living. Lovitz’s droll, self-deprecating delivery makes the character inherently likable, even if he’s making mistakes or being difficult. Plus, the relationship he has with his son - for whom he splits custody with his ex-wife - made the show interesting, as did the barrage of pop-culture insults and bits of satire. This “critic” definitely did not “stink.”

Bruce Campbell will always be a hero for horror and cult cinema fans everywhere, but we still think his work on the small screen deserved more attention. His appearances in the “Hercules” and “Xena” universes were always fun, as was his short-lived series, “Jack of All Trades” in 2000. If there was ever a television “also-ran” for Campbell, however, it'd be “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” The actor’s legendary charisma and comedic chops made this serial western throwback tons of fun, as did his timing with co-star Julius Carry. “Brisco” amassed a loyal following of fans, but it wasn’t big enough to save the show from cancellation. However, we highly recommended going back and taking another ride down that old dusty trail….

There are probably multiple generations at this point who aren’t even aware that Ben Stiller had an early ‘90s sketch comedy show, never mind actually taking the time to check it out. We’d advise doing just that, however, since “The Ben Stiller Show” serves as a great time capsule for what was going on comedically and culturally during this transitional period in pop culture. Granted, some of the content of certain sketches may not fly today, but “The Ben Stiller Show” remained smartly-written, chaotic fun. Plus, the show featured a wealth of future talent, including Bob Odenkirk, Judd Apatow, David Cross and Janeane Garofalo.

This next series wasn’t necessarily a horror anthology, per se, but it possessed a similar “mystery or monster of the week” vibe that made older shows like “Kolchak, The Night Stalker” so much fun. Yet, “Eerie, Indiana” was a show geared towards youth and this energetic spirit helped it pull away from the pack of other shows that provided early frights to teens and pre-teens. The cast was likable, the atmosphere spooky but also with enough moments of light-heartedness to break up the tension. If you were the kind of ‘90s kid that lived and died by “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” then you owe it to yourself to check out “Eerie, Indiana.”

It probably seemed like a foregone conclusion that “Freakazoid!” was gonna be a hit. After all, this was yet another collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Warner Bros., a partnership that was responsible for birthing both “Tiny Toon Adventures” and “Animaniacs.” So, what happened with “Freakazoid!?” Well, nothing…at least, if you’re referring to its reputation as a cult classic. But cult status doesn’t necessarily translate into ratings, and the show only mustered a pair of seasons. However, those who watched “Freakazoid!” during its original run can easily tell you how bizarre and uniquely funny it was, and how they never missed an episode. This was a superhero show with something extra, and we think it holds up wonderfully well today.

Hands up, anyone out there who writes for a living, or just enjoys good, quality writing? Do you love Aaron Sorkin? Of course you do, because every writer loves Aaron Sorkin. The man has composed some mesmerizing monologues and captivating screenplays over the years, always with a focus upon complicated, poetic dialogue. “Sports Night” was Sorkin’s attempt at dramatizing the world of a fictional sports score and news show, one that specifically takes aim at the real-life “SportsCenter.” Josh Charles, Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman and more round out the “Sports Night” cast, all of whom bring their A-game to bring Sorkin’s stories and dialogue to life.

Hey, have you ever experienced a Mandela Effect where you thought that a show was on the air a lot longer than it actually was? Some fans of “My So-Called Life” feel that way, perhaps due to watching it in reruns, but more likely thanks to the passion they felt watching the show during its original airing. “My So-Called Life” made Claire Danes an instant name-to-watch, and its writing presented the anxieties and frustrations of teenagers in a remarkably realistic fashion. There was no sugarcoating going on: this was exactly how many kids of the day felt, acted and behaved. That said, those who caught “My So-Called Life” never forgot it.

This British sitcom just barely makes our criteria, having been produced right at the tail end of the 1990s. That said, it’s fun to watch “Spaced” now, if only to catch baby Simon Pegg and Nick Frost early in their careers. “Spaced” also ties nicely into Pegg’s established love of pop-culture nerd-dom, albeit discussed within a traditional sitcom format. The quirky direction of Edgar Wright ensures that “Spaced” never falls into the pitfalls of tedium, but instead balances romance and humor in a way that’s still very funny, so many years later.

This is a show that almost always tops lists like these; those gone-but-not-forgotten programs that fans still love. “Freaks and Geeks” may have aired at the very end of the 1990s, but its early ‘80s setting made term “retro” cool years before other network shows jumped on that train. “Freaks and Geeks” is also another one of those shows where nearly everyone involved went on to gain mainstream fame, from Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Linda Cardellini to James Franco, Busy Philipps and creator Paul Feig. The teen comedy-drama continues to be rediscovered today, thankfully, as younger fans latch on to this cool and chic series about high school life.


Did you see any of these shows when they originally aired? Let us know in the comments!